You should be able to peen the rivet over and take up the side play. Lay it on a flat metal surface and use the ball end of a ball pein hammer. Use light strokes and check the play frequently. Stop when it's tight enough that the hooks can't overlap but are still free to move easily.

You should be able to peen the rivet over and take up the side play. Lay it on a flat metal surface and use the ball end of a ball pein hammer. Use light strokes and check the play frequently. Stop when it's tight enough that the hooks can't overlap but are still free to move easily.

What he said

__________________
We're not out here to rough it. We're here to smooth it. Things are rough enough in town.

May be fine, does the shift drum have nice disc shaped sides that serve to keep these arms in place? That loose fit may be THE DESIGN to assure no binding. How did we come to have this apart? Symptoms? Just noticed it on the way by? SpringS OK?

It's supposed to be that way. There are other pieces that keep the arms where they're supposed to be when in use.

Please don't go banging on it with a hammer.

The shifty bits in a Suzuki GS500 (and many other bikes) look a lot like that, and basically there's a plate over the end of the shift drum that keeps the "hooks" at the end in the right place. The side-to-side play is of no consequence, and some play is needed to ensure the assembly moves freely under load.

Also, you have omitted some VERY important information, like what sort of machine you're working on and whether you are having any other problems that would lead you to suspect this part.

The bike is a 2010 Ex250. I'm assuming this could be damage because I have laid the bike down towards the shifter side more than once. Damage that could have transferred to what I see now. Also, I have tried to split the crankcase without taking out the clutch basket (stupid me) that might have put undue stress on the parts mentioned.

You and concours are right in that there IS a plate/disc that keeps these apart and in normal operation, there is 0.00001% chance of these two coming undone from their places and hooking up like in 3rd picture. I am just worried about the loosness.

All in all, I see no damage to the riveted area that would lead me to believe that they could have gotten that way because my mistake while trying to split the case.

Put down the tools... back away slowly..... Get a FACTORY shop manual, and begin reading.

pretty sure the 2 arms are on opposite sides of the shifter drum... they can never touch when assembled. they also prolly ride in a track to keep them in alignment & have springs so they follow the shifter cam on the drum